The Last Paragon in the Apocalypse Chapter 1466: Second Meeting

Klaus had braced himself to materialize in a savage wilderness overrun by ferocious beasts poised to rip into him with fangs and claws. He anticipated it eagerly and welcomed the challenge.

Yet, upon arrival, he materialized within a cozy garden. Vibrant blossoms and graceful butterflies fluttered all around him.

A butterfly featuring green stripes fluttered by and perched atop his head. The instant after, a yellow one alighted on his shoulder, and soon he found himself encircled by scores of butterflies.

"Ah, my bad luck,"

Scarcely had those words left his lips when he felt a presence enter the garden. Whirling about, his eyes settled on a stunning woman draped in sheer, multi-layered attire that bared 90% of her figure to his sight.

In the very next instant, though, butterflies enveloped those bare expanses, weaving a gorgeous gown about her form. She studied Klaus for a handful of moments before uttering a word.

"We meet again, Paragon."

"Indeed we do, Queen Mantis," Klaus grinned while squinting his eyes. "I have been meaning to ask, but why is your name Mantis when in reality you are an Ant?"

The Jade Ant Queen blinked a time or two and smiled. "I still have your left arm, right leg, and eye. I suppose adding more to it won’t hurt, would it?"

Klaus flashed a broad smile. "On a second thought, I am happy to see you again, Queen Mantis. Can’t say I have gotten over your beauty even after billions of years."

"Tsk," Queen Mantis clicked her tongue and began heading toward a pavilion nearby. "Let’s have a seat and talk, Paragon. I have some things to discuss with you that I believe will be of great interest to you."

Klaus trailed after her. Instinctively, he sensed they weren't in the real world just then. As one who'd crossed paths with his prior incarnations on multiple occasions, he recognized their location as the astral planes.

This implied his physical form lay somewhere teetering between existence and oblivion. Still, that failed to preoccupy him now. His mind locked onto Queen Mantis, the lone beast he'd failed to subjugate back when he reigned as the Star Monarch.

’So she died, huh.’ Klaus sighed inwardly, pondering, ’Though I wonder who and what was capable of killing such a monster,’

A few moments passed, and they sat down.

Queen Mantis eyed him for a brief instant before launching into speech. "By now, you might have already realized where we are, meaning I am dead. Indeed, I am dead, and this is my astral space, where I have been waiting millions of years for your return."

"Why?" Klaus inquired, swiftly rephrasing. "Answer this first. How did you die? Who or what was able to kill someone like you?"

Queen Mantis smiled, her allure mesmerizing. Yet Klaus detected seething rage lurking deep within her eyes. Even beyond the grave, her slayer's intent brimmed with savage wrath.

"I owe you an apology, Paragon. You warned me, tried to help me, but I rejected, insulted, and even nearly killed you. I am sorry. I should have believed you when you warned me against the Heavens Court."

Klaus sighed, his face serene.

As though he'd long suspected the perpetrators of her demise, the news that the Heavens Court bore responsibility failed to jolt him.

’Those greedy bastards,’

He'd tangled with them repeatedly, commencing in the Era of Blood during his time as the Asura God. Hence, none grasped the heavens' profound wickedness better than he.

"How did it happen, and why haven’t I heard of it? Even better, why didn’t you call for my help?"

Queen Mantis smiled. "You are a good person, Paragon. Even after nearly killing you, you still had my best interest at heart."

Klaus coughed lightly and smiled. "I wouldn’t say best interest. More like a mutually beneficial relationship that would have gotten both of us what we wanted."

"Still, you tried to help me, and even when I chased you away, you still had me in your heart." Her gaze drifted to the horizon, then she unveiled the tale of events.

"When I chased you off back then, I decided to close my Nest and never accept anyone for at least another million years. However, 30 years after your visit, the Heavens Envoy arrived in my domain with a proposal.

They wanted me to join the Heavens Army to attack Planet Comet Prime. I didn’t know it was the planet your people lived on back then. Of course, even if I did, I had already planned to reject their offer, and I did. I sent him packing, but not before he threatened me.

Fast forward 200,000 years, a 100,000-warrior-strong army sent by the Supreme Celestial arrived at my doorstep, and without any notice, they attacked.

It was a grave battle, one that resulted in the death of 90% of my children. They fought valiantly but perished one by one until only a few thousand remained.

In the end, I won the battle. A few months later, after I burned my second supreme core to invoke the will of my world, I left the Nest to search for you.

Regrettably, when I finally got news about you, it was far too late. Planet Comet Prime had already fallen, and you were proclaimed dead.

Thus, I came back here, awaiting my inevitable end.

A hundred years passed before the Supreme Emperor dispatched a second squad. This round, my children and I couldn't last much longer. I fought fiercely to thin their ranks significantly, but even so, I wasn't sufficient on my own.

Right before my death, though, I activated my second supreme core to exile most of the Heaven Warriors. The remaining few got locked away, and across the billions of years since, I've sustained my Nest with their essence.

Then, I achieved what you insisted was feasible—despite my doubts it could be: I called forth samsara and plunged into the reincarnation cycle. True to your guidance, it ultimately succeeded, yet the Supreme Celestial stepped in, dooming me to eventually serve as a servant of the heavens.

Somewhere concealed in this realm lies the nirvana egg I snatched from you ages ago. It holds my reincarnated form.

In 75 days, it will hatch. The instant it does, the confined Heaven Warriors will break free and attempt to seize me."

"So you want me to take you from them?"

"Yes. If you manage to take me away, I'll be forever grateful. I'll vow my loyalty to you and become your priceless asset."

Klaus stared at her for several minutes before nodding. "Okay."

"Huh... Really?" She clearly hadn't expected Klaus to agree so readily. Their last meeting had gone sour, so she anticipated a mocking grin from him.

His quick acceptance came as a total shock.

"Truth be told, even though I'm still mad at you for how you handled my innocent visit last time, in the end, you're the legendary Supreme Jade Ant Queen. Allyship with you surpasses any lingering resentment.

That said, I also intend to give you to one of my many wives. She's an Insect Tamer like you, but superior by far to even yourself." Klaus grinned, drawing his face nearer to Queen Mantis, and questioned:

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about the Primordial Hive Queen, would you?"